Officials to Push Fix at Route 17, 287 Weave

Officials in Mahwah are working toward a solution to the traffic issues at the intersection of Routes 17 and 287, and the New York State Thruway, at the Mahwah border.

According to an update from township engineer Mike Kelly at a township council meeting Thursday night, officials are hoping to push the trouble spot onto the state’s agenda during a meeting next week.

During continuing talks with the NJ Department of Transportation and its counterpart in New York, local officials say they have been trying to secure funding and a concrete plan to correct a traffic issue with the weave at the busy merge. Kelly said a meeting planned for Wednesday will bring together representatives from each state’s agency. According to Mayor Bill Laforet, representatives from Governor Chris Christie’s office will also attend the meeting.

“We want to find a solution to the issue with the weave,” Kelly said.

He also commented that finding funding for the project has been a roadblock in the past, but that local officials are hoping to up the issue on both states’ priority lists at the meeting.

Kelly also said plans to install warning signs at the intersection should be carried out by the end of next week.

Over the summer, the DOT said it would be installing yellow and black chevron signs, new advance curve and rolling truck signs, and possibly 'right lane for exit' only signs, at the state border.